Chelsea news round-up: Spanish talent joins Blues, one more new signing, Belgian left club

Official: Chelsea confirm club record landing of highly-rated Spanish talent

Chelsea have announced the club record signing of shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Former Athletic Bilbao ‘keeper signed a seven-year contract to become the most expensive goalkeeper in football history after Chelsea paid his £71.8 million buy-out clause.

Chelsea’s new signing beats the record fee Liverpool paid for AS Roma star Alisson last month and ends a hectic couple of hours at the club.

Deadline day move Kepa arrives to take place of the departed Thibaut Courtois who joined Real Madrid earlier on Thursday evening, and Spanish talented goalkeeper expressed his delight at becoming a Blue.

‘It’s a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life,’ Kepa said.

‘So many things attracted me to the club, all the titles the club has won, the other players, the city, the English Premier League. It’s an accumulation of things, and I am very glad Chelsea has decided to trust me and to take me in as well.’

New Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri will be delighted about the fresh legs at the club and can now include the shot-stopper in the squad that will face Huddersfield on Saturday.

The Premier League giants Chelsea have confirmed the loan signing of Croatia international Mateo Kovacic from the Spanish club Real Madrid.

As announced on the club’s official website, the Croatian star will spend a season with the west London club, but will not be able to sign the player permanently at the end of the season.

The La Liga giants offered the player to Chelsea’s management as a sweetener in the deal to take Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid.

The Belgian ‘keeper was widely expected to move to Madrid this summer, but the Blues were digging their heels in until a replacement was signed.

Mateo Kovacic has made his feelings clear at Real Madrid. He wanted to move on this transfer market after falling out of favour.

Signed from the Serie A giants Inter Milan with a wealth of promise back in 2015, World Cup finalist has struggled to hold down a regular starting place at Los Blancos.

The likes of his compatriot Luka Modric and Brazil international Casemiro have all been picked ahead of the Croatian star in the latest years.

Official: European giants snap up Chelsea key man on six-year deal

The London-based outfit Chelsea have reached an agreement with the Champions League winners Real Madrid for the sale of Belgium international Thibaut Courtois, the club confirmed.

Thibaut will join Los Blancos once he has undergone medical and agreed to personal terms on Thursday.

The Blues announced the news on the website and confirmed the summer deal would see Croatia international central midfielder Mateo Kovacic move in the opposite direction.

Real Madrid confirmed Courtois will sign a six-year contract and announced Kovacic would join the Blues on a season-long loan (without an option to buy at the end of the season).

Courtois was presented as a Real Madrid player yesterday and it ends a week of turmoil for the Belgian star and Chelsea.

The goalkeeper went AWOL from training and refused to return to London until the Blues green light his transfer to Real Madrid. Courtois was desperate to leave the Blues to live in the same city as his family.

Courtois has made 126 Premier League appearances for Chelsea since joining the club from the La Liga giants Atletico Madrid back in 2014.